Did you know there are retreats and conferences just for people chasing financial independence? Think of them as adult money camps - part learning, part laughter, part deep conversation (money and otherwise) with new friends. No, I’m not running one, nor selling one, but I’ve been lucky enough to attend a few, and they’ve been life-changing. People often ask how I find out about them and which ones are worth attending, so I’ve pulled together a list of some of the best upcoming events from New Zealand and around the world. Whether you’re just starting your FIRE journey or already FI and looking for your tribe, there’s something here for you.

Well, the moment has arrived. The tiny five-year-old who started Primary School back in 2012 has just turned 18 and completed her final day of Year 13 at High School. Just. Like. That! I was warned that time would pass quickly, and it has. She has a few exams to get through, then she is done with school for good and can enjoy a few well-deserved weeks of R&R. Once the weather heats up, she will launch into full-time summer work for a local cherry packhouse. Going to university is expensive. Most of the cost is in the accommodation. We have always explained to her that we will financially assist her through university, provided she also contributes. She has done that. It’s going to be a family effort to get her through her degree debt-free.

Wednesday marked the beginning of a new month. The first day of any new month is the day that, from a personal finance perspective, energises me the most because it is when I update our net worth and get a snapshot in time of how Jonny and I are financially progressing. Are we growing more prosperous or poorer? When I’m asked for a sound bite one-liner/single comment about ‘taking control of your money’, encouraging others to track their net worth is my go-to reply. Without a doubt, it is the most effective tool for understanding whether you are going backwards or forwards financially. It only takes a couple of minutes each month, but hands down, it's the most simplistic yet effective way of showing us how far we have come and where we might be headed. Additionally, since I’m relatively open about our finances, I thought you might be interested in seeing our progress over the last month.

Is life really more expensive for my whānau of three at the moment? I honestly wasn’t 100% sure. So, I decided to find out - in detail. Why? Economically speaking, it feels incredibly gloomy at the moment. It would be easy to fall into that mindset, which, as an optimist, I am loath to do. So, the best option is to find some facts. Managing personal finances is a delicate art of pulling various income and spending levers, and I wondered if all that I’m doing is working. To calculate what our life currently costs, I pulled up two full years of spending and earning data and compared them; the results were interesting.

Trying something for the first time can be confusing, especially for those managing their investments on their own. I encourage you to take the plunge and buy and manage your own investments. I understand that, although I know you have the skills to buy, hold, and eventually sell your own investments, the initial experience can be overwhelming. However, there's no need to worry; it's not as difficult as it may seem. It just requires learning a new process and becoming familiar with it. I often receive emails asking how to invest using Smart, which is the provider I use to purchase my Exchange-Traded Fund. I’d like to clarify the process for anyone interested.